Magnetic ore-separator.



A. F. JOBKE.

MAGNETIC ORE SEPARATOR. APPLICATION man 153.13.1911.

1191?.,54.. 'Patented 001. 19, 1915.

WITNESSES INVENTOR rio l mt1:

AUG-UST F. JOBKE, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO v JOHN Gr. BURNS, 'DANIEL BINGI-IAM, KATHERINE CRUMAY, THOMAS HIGGINS, AND.-

I-I. P. GAZZAIVI, ALLOF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAGNETIC ORESEPARATOR.

Matata.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application yfiled. February 9, 1911. Serial No. 607,513.

disseminating ore as it is fed by\gravity into and beyond a magnetic field, whereby small particles, that would not otherwise be exposed, will'be exposed. and subjected to the action of the magnetic field.

Another object of the'invention is to provide' electrical means for feeding ore into a magnetic field by gravity andsubjecting the gravity fed ore to an undulatory movement that causes the ore to be thoroughly agitated v so as to expose such particles that are subjectable to a magnetic field, thereby allowing the magnetic field to attract such particles as would be covered and escape'themagnetic field if the ore was simply carried through the field without being agitated.

I am awarel that the feedlfng of ore by gravity into a magnetic separator is old,-

but has proved a failure on account of the ore taking a high velocity which prevents the magnets of the separator from attracting small particles, thereby rendering the component of magnetism so small in proportion to the gravity component that many particles escape that should be attracted and collected by the magnets. In my invention, 'I have devised a third component produced by vibratory and reciprocatory movements that immediately place small particles of ore into the magnetic field. thereby causing -all small particles passing through the mag-` netic field to be at one time or another subjected to magnetic influences.

It is a well known fact that to impart a vibratory movement to a body through the medium of an electrical device considerable power is required, particularly to raise the vibrations to the necessary amplitude to ob- 'talin the `desired result in connection with appended claims.

myinvention, therefore -I have devised mechanical means Yto impart to the body a natural frequency equal tothe .given frequency of the electrical device, and in this manner a resonating electrical and mechanical system is provided that requires a minimum degree of energy for overcoming losses of friction of air andere particles.

The invention will be better understood when reference is had to the drawing and the detail description thereof. In the drawing I have illustrated the preferred embodiments of theA invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof are susceptible to such changes'and modifications as fall within the scope of the Inv the drawing :-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of a separator constructed in accordance with this'in- ,y

vention, Fig42 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of actuating means, Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of separator, showing a reciprocatory gravity conveyer, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a`modified form of conveyer, and F ig..5 is a transverse sectional view of another modified form of conveyer.

The reference numeral l'denotes a hopper y of a conventional form adapted to contain ore 2 fed by gravity through the open end 3 of said hopper, the open end 3 giving free passa-ge to the ore, which will pass on to an inclined metallic plate 4, the ore being prevented from iiowing. over this plate after a heaping bevel or pile isestablished at the end of said plate. f

6 denotes an inclined conveyer having the upper end thereof beneath the lower end of the plate 4 and the lower end thereof curved, as at 7 to dischargethe non-magnetic ore from the separator. The inclined conveyer 6 hasthe under side thereof connected to a plurality of elliptical springs 8, carried by suitable supports 9 erected upon a foundation 10, 'said' leaf springs yieldably supporting the conveyer and producing an undulatory or vibrating movement -of the same, as will hereinafter appear.

Fixed to the under side. of the conveyer 6A `Located above the conveyer 6 is a trans` rat-cated oet. ia, lara..v

I' verse movable' collecting apron 13. and an` electro-magnet 14.-', the apron 13 being designed and movably mounted -upon rollers whereby magnetic particles -attracted bythe electro-magnet 14 will be conveyed to a "suitable receptacle. j As a source of-f power in connection with the electro-magnets 14 and 12, I have shown a generator 16 and this generator can be conveniently used when no other alternating current is available by providing the generv ator -with small collecting rings 17 vwhich are connected to thel'armature winding.l

similar to a rotaryconverter. The ringsil'? andthe other poles connected 'by a wire 19,

thereby producing an excitation for the electro-magnets which` impartsgalternately to said"magnets the maximum peak of pull, vthus causing the conveyer 6 to vibrate' in an undulatory manner. 'In case two collecting shown` in Fig. 2, which are connected to opposite points of the armaturewinding, the

electro-magnets'are simply connected `in thereby 'simply causing the conveyer 6 vibrate in a vertical plane. j

parallel or-in series to insure an even torque, to

' 'In ,-Fig. 3 ofthefdrawing therevis illus- I: trated a. modification ,of the invention, 35

wherein the conveyer-6 is placed. at a greater ir'lclin'ati'onfA and in Iorder toprevent the ore from rapidly sliding o\ er the same, the conveyer is provided with transverselyy arranged and angularly disposed ribs 20, these ribsl providing transverse Apockets 21, and

when the conveyer 6 is shifted the ore with- -v v e in the pocketsis elevated and discharged at an angle to enter thev neXtlowermost pocket vand eventually be discharged from the lower end of the conveyer. It is during the transfer of the ore from one pocket to the other that the fine particles of ore are suspended or thrown intothe magnetic field and'can be iso separated from the non-ma ctie material. Inthis instance, vertical sprlngs 22 are employed for supportingthe conveyer 6 in a. manner that said conveyer can be shifted,

'and tofshift said conveyer, the upper end, of said conveyer is provided with an armature 23 in connection with'an electro-'magnet 24, saidelectro-magnet being in circuit with a generator 25 having a. single collector ring.

[When the-electro-magnet 24 is energized, a

reciprocatory movement is imparted to the fed to the conveyer from `the hopper 1 (the lplate jbeing kdispensed Vwith in this in-, i. stance), thefore will be gradually shifted yconveyer 6 and as the ore is automatically downwardly upon the conveyer into and through the magnetic field.

Various means can vbe employed for. re-

tarding the'ore Vuponthejconveyer 6l in lieu of the ribs 20,- therefore in Figs. 4 and 5Aof n th'e drawing the conveyer. in the first instance is ,provided with inverted V-shaped ribs 26, while in the latter instance the con- Lveyer has V-shaped longitudinal pockets. 27, the walls of which have a tendency to throw the ore upwardly when an oscillatory movement is imparted to the conveyer supported upon the upper ends of the springs 22. The oscillatory'movement is imparted to the conveyer" through the medium of an electro-` magnet 25a located vlat one side thereof andadaptedto attract an armature 26, carried by the'edge'ofthe conveyer. The ore is suf'- iciently agitated'to liberate magnetic ticles, theparticles^being placed in a than if said particles-were at rest.

4In the operation of the separatorJ referthat is more conducive to their attraction' ence. being had to Fig. 1 of thedrawing, the

hopper 1 constitutes an important factor,`

particularly the plate 4 in connection with sald hopper,`as the supply ofore 5 upon the plate 4- constitutes automatic means for lshutting olf a supply of ore in the cessation in vthe "operation Vof the separator. yobvious that when the electrlcal devices are placed out of operation that the ore remaining upon the conveyer 6 will retain the heap will he retarded until the separator is again placed in operation.

yA conductive platecan be selected for theconvever 6 and when placed 'in the field of an alternating. current -electro-magnet, currents are produced which will have a tendencvto move the plate out of the stronger field, and as vibrations can'be producedl in this manner, it is not essential that the armatures 11 be utilized, however, itis preferable to have the pure magnetic action, as this application requires less 'power cn account of its perfect action and prevents any'A action of alternating currents upon the ore particles. f

As will be seen, each of the devices shown v in the .drawings operatesto throw` the material 'away from the carrier in a direction It is i of ore 5 and lconsequently the flow of ore .opposing thatof gravity. As'the surface ofthe 'conveyer has its general direction of length inclined, the particular movements Vof the conveyer act to cause. theI direction of movement of the particles to be at substantial right angles to the direction of length of the conveyer; consequently the particles y on-thei'r return movement! to the convever l-after'being thrown will drop on to a different part of the surface, the opposite move, ments of the particles being first at an angle to thevertical, followed bv the movement in a vertical direction. This is provided in Fig. 1 by reason of the movement of the conveyer directions at substantial rightv isoy ' pulsating action.

mamas angles to the direction of length of the conveyer, the inclination of the surface being the particular configuration of the surface,

together with the movements of the conveyer through the means shown and described. However, the feature above indicated is but one of the particular features which produce the desired results, the rapidity of movements of the conveyer forming one of the 'essentials of an apparat-us for my purpose,

rather than the length of the throw of the material, the general idea being to cause the particles to be moved in the direction of the separating magnet and so agitated as to practically provide a surety that all particles will 'be exposed to the action of the magnet during the travel over theconveyer.

By the use of the actuating means indicated, viz., the movement of the conveyer in one directicn under the action of magnetic attraction, the opposing movement being provided byresilient means placed under tension by the movement produced by the magnets, the rapidity in numberv of movements is increased to an extent to pro-4 vide for maximum operation, and at the same time the action is such as to greatly eliminate noise, etc., in operation.` a

'lo produce 'the desired result, the rapidity of the pulsations is such as to practically maintain the fed material in action,

although the inclination is such as to substantially preventmovement unaided by the As heretofore pointed out, the means for this purpose disclosed in the -drawings is the electrical mechanism which produces a comparatively high frequencv of operation, beingin excess of five pulsations per second of time, a frequency which exceeds any that is provided by mechanical structures, so far as known to me.

I desire to call attention to the fact thatl magnet, the smallest magnetic force possible lwill vattract the particles. This is particularly true in connection with the modifications shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive where the particles are caused to reach a point of rest easilv influenced by'a magnet.

What I claim is z- 1. Meansfor feedingmaterial into a separating gap comprising an inclined conveyer surface adaptedto-receive the material from a source of supply, and means for moving said surfaceto cause the material to be intermittently thrown in directions. perpendicular to the plane of such surface, whereby the material will be caused to travel lengthwise of the conveyer, said means including electro-magnetic mechanism for providing rapid pulsations to the conveyer by magnetic attraction.

\ 2. Means for feeding material into a separating gap, comprising an inclined conveyer adapted to receive thel material from a source of supply, and means for providing rapid pulsations of relatively short length to the conveyerby magnetic attraction in d1- lrections at right angles to the direction of length of the conveyer to cause the material totravel lengthwise of the conveyer and be intermittently thrown-into the vspace above the surface of the conveyer. v

3. Means for feeding material into a sepa-` rating gap, comprising an inclined ccnveyer adapted to receive the material from a source of supply, and means for providing rapid pulsations of relatively short length to the conveyer in directions at right `angles to the direction of length of the conveyer to cause the material to travel lengthwise of the conveyer and be intermittently thrown into the space above the surface cf the conveyer, said means including an electromaga source of supply, and means for providing rapid pulsations of short length to the conveyer, in directions to cause the material'to vbe thrown therefrom in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the conveyer surface and opposing gravity, the return lmovement of the material under'the action ofggravity placing it in an advanced position with respect. to the direction of length or the conveyer. y

5. Means for feeding material into' a separating gap, comprising an inclined lconveyer 'i adapted to receive the material fromv a source of supply, and means for providing rapid pulsations of short length to the conveyer, in directions to cause the material to be thrown therefrom in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the conveyer surface and opposing gravity, the returning move-I inent of the material under action of gravity placing-'it in an advanced position with re-' spect to the direction of length of the conveyer, said means including an electromag-A net adapted to move the conveyer in one dip rection by magnetic attraction.

6. In means for feeding material into a separating gap with a substantially uniform thickness of material and in comblnaa tion, a material-receiving plate adapted' to receive the material from a source of sup-` ply, said plate having Aits direction of length inclined to the horizontal in the direction of ment of the plate being provided -by said mittently tension, said movements being exerted in a direction to cause the material to be interthrown perpendicular to the plane of the plate.

7 In means for feeding material into separating gap with a substantially uniform thickness of material and in combination, 'a

materialreceiving plate adapted to receive the material from a source of supply,vsa1d plate having its direction of length inclined to the horizontal in the direction of How' of the material, 'and means for moving said -plate by magnetic attraction in a direction at substantial right angles to thedirection of length of the-plate, to place it under,ten sion, the opposite movement ofthe plate be-A ing provided by suchI tension, said move-v ments being exerted in a direction to\ca use the material to be` intermittently thrown perpendicular to the plane of theplate.

8. In means for feeding material into a separating gap with. 'a substantially uniform thickness ofzmaterial and in combination, a material-receiving plateadapted to receive the material from a source ofsupply, said plate having its direction of length inflow of the material,`a resilientsupport for said plate, and means for moving said plate by magnetic attraction to place it lunder tension, the opposite movement' of the'plate being providedby said tension, both movefm'ents being 1n direction substantially perplate.

9. In means for feeding material into a separating with a substantially uniform` thicknessof material and in combination, a

material-receiving .plate adapted to receive v the material from a sourcev of supply, said plate having its directin of length inclinedI to the horizontal in the direction of flow of` the'material, an armature carried by and positionedibeneath said plate, and an electromagnet adapted to coperate with said armature to move said plate to placeit under'tensiom the. opposite vmovement of the -plate* being provided by the tensionfbothmovements being in direction substantially perpendicular to-the direction of length ofl theplate. V p -10. In means forffeeding material into a separating ap with a substantially uniform thicknessv o? vof length of the plate for causing -the material to be thrown therefrom in a direction #opposing gravity, the return movement of the material being by gravity, the combined movements acting -to advance `the material in the direction' of length of the plate.

clined to the horizontal in the direction of In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses A AUGUST y F. J fWitnesses: l i Y i KARL H. BUTLER, MAX 'I-I. SRonovrrz.

material and in combination, a material-receiving plate adaptedto receive the material froma source'of supply, lsaid '65 

